Hirsuteness and the Walls of Uruk By: Bailey, Karina, and Kelsey

Enkidu’s Hairy State  First seen in the beginning of Gilgamesh  Enkidu is roaming with the animals and is literally hairy.  Symbolizes Enkidu’s animal nature; his innocence before he becomes human.  Once the prostitute shaves him, he loses his innocence and becomes human.  Reinforces the theme of becoming human because losing his hair gives Enkidu his humanity. And the events following cause him shame and death which are all human experiences.

More Hirsuteness  Hirsuteness is also seen when Gilgamesh is on his journey to bring back Enkidu.  Gilgamesh wears animal pelts  Gilgamesh becomes like an animal because of his grief over the loss of Enkidu.  He acts strangely during his journey; not reasoning, only focused on getting immortality.  Siduri, the barmaid, tries to get Gilgamesh to take off the pelts and move on, but he is not ready to.

Even More Hirsuteness  Stuck in the past, not ready to get over Enkidu’s death; not living like a human.  Urshanabi finally burns the pelts that Gilgamesh wore and he can return back home as a human, not an animal.  Gilgamesh can begin to move on with his life.

The Walls of Uruk  Symbolize the great accomplishments that mortals are capable of.  First seen in the beginning  Gilgamesh makes his people build walls and tear them down continuously.  Shows Gilgamesh’s control and oppression of his people  Shows that Gilgamesh had no point to his life and that he was bored.

More Walls of Uruk  Also seen at the end of the epic when Gilgamesh returns home.  Shows what the mortals did while he was away. While Gilgamesh was away, acting deranged because of his grief, the people actually accomplished more than they did when he was there. Ironic because Gilgamesh is part god and their ruler.  Also shows how Gilgamesh has changed because he is finally able to marvel at the walls and appreciate his people’s work.

Works Cited    Gilgamesh by Herbert Mason